House passes low-income heating fund bill

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Michigan utilities could add up to a $1 surcharge to electric bills to provide heating assistance to the poor under legislation that has passed the state House.

The bill approved 86-21 Thursday is designed to find permanent funding for a low-income heating fund that was ended by a 2011 state appeals court ruling.

Utilities could opt out of charging the fee. But they would have an incentive to participate because they otherwise would be barred from shutting off service to delinquent accounts from November to April.